A Case Of Embarrassment

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 25th May 2008

Characters: Fog, Eliste, Nico
Description: Fog comes to get his quilt and Nico visits at the same time.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 26 of Turn 4

She had taken a break from sewing. Doing it all day, day after day, even something she enjoyed as much as she did quilting could get tiring. Eliste had finally stopped when her hands started complaining and she had decided to take a nap. She was dozing, not quite completely asleep, but most of the way there and not quite to the point of dreaming when she heard a knock at the door. She started at the sound, her hands jerking from where they were laced over her stomach and she turned her bleary eyes toward the door. "Yes?"

Her voice was faint coming through the door, but he did hear an answer.
He took the door handle and twisted, opening the door and sticking his head though the gap. "It's just me, I haven't much time but thought I would call back now. Lineal wants us to be ready to go at first light, so I have to get back and ensure the cargo is tied down and safe." he said, talking hurriedly - more so than he normally would
- her words earlier that afternoon had had a curious affect on him.

"Oh, Fog." Eliste smiled as she pushed herself to a sitting position.
She ran a hand through her hair, touseled by the pillow. The hand made it's way around to rub her eyes before indicating a bag that sat upon a chair in the room. "It's in there. I'm afraid I didn't finish Nico's yet. My hands got tired."

"You shouldn't have pushed yourself to finish mine, if your hands were hurting." he said, taking a step into the room. "Is there something I can get you, a drink? Something to eat?"

Eliste shook her head as she adjust her covers then smoothing them. "No, thank you. I'm sorry to hear that you can't stay long, but I know you're busy."

"I still have time to get you something to eat or drink. Lineal can bear to do without me for a half candlemark or so." he gave a lopsided grin. "I've also talked to the Holder and healer and given them a description of - Helvar," he said the name slowly, as if committing it to memory again.

"I suppose," Eliste said slowly as she thought, "Maybe something to drink, then, thank you." In a way, she was glad that he had told others. She certainly didn't want Helvar finding her. She almost wondered why she hadn't told anyone beyond Vaheri sooner, but she had to admit, her plans had been to get as far away as possible and the idea to warn others about him just hadn't occurred to her after everything had started.

"I'll be back shortly."

~*~

He could hear voices as he neared her room, a deeper voice than Eliste's, quiet deep murmurs from behind the door. He wondered if the healer had arrived during his absence. Adjusting the small tray he carried his had reached for the handle and he realised the door was still ajar. He cocked his head to the open space and listened, the voice was familiar, but he still couldn't make out the words.
Thinking better than to just barge in, he knocked three short raps on the door and waited.

"Fog?" the surprise and puzzlement on his cousins face, warred with an unwelcome look that surprised Fog.

"Hi Nico." he said with a small smile on his face, "You dropped in as well?" he edged past Nico into the room and flashed a smile over at Eliste. "Fruit juice and a couple of small berry pies from the kitchen. They're cold but I can assure you, they lose nothing to the heat."

"Thank you, Fog." Eliste presented him with a smile, then accepted one of the pies. "Nico just got here a moment ago." She had been rather surprised as well, though she did remember that he said he would visit her again before the riverboat left dock.

"Want company for the walk back?" Fog asked, over his shoulder as he set Eliste's tray down on the small cupboard to the side of her bed.

"Er, no..." Nico shook his head, more than a little disappointed to find his cousin here already, and looking quite at home. "Er, I didn't think you'd be here, I thought you had an errand you had to do before we sailed?"

"I did and that's why I'm here. Eliste finished my quilt and I said I'd come back and collect it." Fog replied, oblivious to his cousins suspicions.

"Who's Eliste?" Nico looked from one to the other, and then towards the doorway as if expecting someone else to appear.

"Er.." Fog realised his mistake and looked across at Eliste in apology.

Eliste froze. It hadn't even registered that Fog had called her by her real name instead of the one she had chosen until Nico asked about it.
She flushed, then said softly, "That's my real name."

"Your what?" Nico looked more closely at Ellina, "You're real name?"
realization came to him then, he never had stood a chance, if she were going to confide in anyone, it would have been the person she felt closest to, and obviously that wasn't him. "Which would you prefer I use?" he asked quietly. The reasons behind her changed name were not really an issue anymore, not to him anyway; he had seen on more than one occasion, the way she looked at Fog - now between the quilt and the revelation of her name, it was becoming more obvious to him. "Look never mind," he held up his hand at the beginning of her explanation, "I'll see you back at the boat..." he looked directly at Fog, before turning to leave.

The look on his face made Eliste's stomach twist. She had offended him and that had never been her intent. "Nico..." She started softly, but she was uncertain how to proceed. She had never meant to hurt him, but it seemed she had done just that. The girl turned to Fog, uncertain and confused.
"I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset him."

Fog shook his head, "It's not your fault. You never indicated you wanted more than friendship. He'll be fine - eventually. I think it'll be a case of embarrassment as much as anything." He crooked an arm around her shoulder, "I'd better go. I'll talk to him and I'm sure everything will be fine - but for now, I should go." he smiled down at her, before giving her a selfconscious hug. "Thank you for the quilt." he said, finally releasing her. "We'll be back in a a couple of sevenday, if you'd care for a visit?"
he asked, bending to collect the quilt from the chair.

"More...than friendship?" Eliste stared up at Fog, then looked at the door. Was that what Nico had wanted? Something more?

It made sense of course, the way he looked at her, the way he touched her. She just hadn't even thought about it at all. Oh poor Nico, she had never meant to hurt him. "Yes, please return." Eliste looked back at Fog, her smile returning, if a bit faltering. "I do enjoy the company." She needed to finish that quilt. She'd finish it after Fog left then have someone take it to the riverboat - along with a note - before they left. "If you would please, ask for someone to come here for a moment so I might make a request?"

With a nod, Fog turned and left her alone. His thoughts were tumbling as he wandered along the hallway. Eliste and her story. The look on Nico's face.
Spotting a drudge, he relayed Eliste's request before heading down towards the dock.

Last updated on the June 1st 2008

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A Case Of Embarrassment